Improved animal-tkap



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.WILLIAM oovun, or .JENNERS onces-Rotos, PENNSYLVANIA. A Leners Patent N0. ramadan@ January 7, 136s. i

IMPROVBD ANIMAL-TRAP.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: n

De it known that I, WILLIAM COVER, of Jonner's Cross-Roads,`in the county of Somerset, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Traps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description'thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

vTo enable others skilled in the art to construct and use' my invention, I will proceed to describe it. My invention consists in a novel construction of a trap for catching rats and similar small animals, and by which construction the trap shall be made to reset itself and be continuous in its operation.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on th'e line :va: of iig. 2. Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section; and Y Figures 3, 4,'and 5, are views of portions shown in detail.

I construct a rectangular box, A, having'a vertical partition, -B, as shown in iig. 1, that portion to one side of the partition being permanently closed, and having one end closed by a scriesof wiresor rods, u, while in the other portion is fitted a cylinder composed of Wires, and havinga longitudinal central division, D, of proper size to'll that portionof the top of the box-when placed horizontally therein. This cylinder is arrangedto revolve on journals c located `at the centre of cach end of the piate D, the cylinder-C being one half within and the other half above the box A, as shown in figs. 1 and 2. Upon the opposite edges, and on the opposite sidesA of this plate'D, a lever, o, is pivoted, having it-s innerendbent so as to project above the surface ofthe plate D,

as shown in fig. 2, the opposite ends of the levers projecting ont beyond the edge of the plate, there being` grooves, m, cut in the opposite sides of the box A for these projecting ends to pass in as the cylinder revolves. The levers o have each a spring, 1,' pressingr against their side'in such a way as to throw the projecting end of the lever out of line with the groove'm, and causing them to strike upon the edge ofthe side of the box A, as shown in iig. 5, and thereby prevent the cylinder from revolving until the lever o is 'drawn around by the animal pulling at the bait on its opposite end, when the projecting cud ot' the lever is brought over the groove, which it at once enters, the cylinder being caused to revolve by means of the weight F attached to a cord wound around the pulleyE on the end of the outerjournal e, as shown in l. It' desired to elevate the weight from tie ground, it may have its cord passed over a.l pulley on the top of a vertical post, I, as represented in red in iig. 1. .It will be observed that when in position, the plate D forms a iloor or continuation of the cover to the closed portion of the box upon which the animal enters' through the open end of the cylinder C to reach the bait. Toprcvent the cylinder from being turned backward by the weight of the animal, a shoulder, t, is formed in one side of the channel m, as shown in iig. 3, upon-which the ascending lever o rests, thereby locking the cylinder in place in connection with the lever on the opposite side. Au opening, I, is made through the partition B, and has surrounding it a series of pointed wires set with their loose ends converging, as shown in iig. 2, to permit tho animal to pass through from the lower portion of the cylinder, and'prcvent their returning through said passage. I i

'lhe operation is as follows: Bait is placed upon the inner ends of each of the levers o, and the weight wouz'nl up.v The animal jumps upon the'top of the box, und enters the open end ofthe cylinder to reach the buit. By its efforts to remove the baitthe lever o is moved so as to cause its outer cnd-to enter the groove m, when the weight instantly causes the `cylinder to make a half revolution, which carries the animal within the box, and the plntcD being brought to a horizontal position, and closing that portion of the box, there is no escupe for thc u'nimni except through the hole I into the other apartment, where it is kept secure until removedby the owner of the trap. j

By this means I produce a very simple and ciicient trap, which resets itself each time it is operated, and that may thus continue to operate automatically until the weight-reaches the ground.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, is n A trap, consisting of a box, A, having one partclosed by a cover, and a partition, B, having an opening` through it, and with the revolving wire cylinder C mounted in the open portion of the box A, all constructed and arranged for operation, as shown and described.

WM. COVER.

Witnesses:

NEWTON S. GRIFFITH, G. R. GRIFFITH. 

